‘Sam Mitchell Addresses Criticism Over Meeting with Oscar Allen: “There Are More Than 100 Names”‘

Sam Mitchell, the coach of the Hawks, has spoken out regarding the uproar stemming from his private discussion with Oscar Allen, co-captain of the Eagles.

As the forward approaches the end of his contract, he is contemplating his future options, with potential moves to Hawthorn or Brisbane during the free agency period reportedly being considered.

During a recent holiday in Perth, following the Hawks’ bye at the end of last month, Mitchell and his wife seized the opportunity to connect with Allen about recruitment, an action he described as quite routine in the realm of football.

After the situation was exposed, it ignited a strong reaction, compelling Allen to issue a public apology.

In an interview on Nine’s Footy Classified, Mitchell expressed his surprise at the way the situation unfolded.

“It’s quite intriguing,” he remarked.

“I caught the comments from [Geelong coach] Chris Scott and I thought he was completely accurate: You can communicate with players from other clubs, but it seems no one can engage with yours. That’s the general sentiment.

“Even [Hawks captain] James Sicily mentioned he would converse with other clubs.”

“It’s simply part of the game. Free agency and player movement are becoming more commonplace these days.”

“Especially if you’re contemplating a move to another state, it’s crucial to gather as much information as possible, as switching clubs is significant, but moving states is an entirely different matter,” he continued.

“Such meetings occur frequently, albeit without much public attention, and quite often the player remains with their original team.”

Allen is believed to be dissatisfied with the initial offer extended by West Coast for his re-signing, which has propelled him to consider other avenues.

Faced with his responsibilities as the Eagles’ co-captain, Allen encountered significant public criticism due to his interaction with a competing club.

“I certainly regret how the public narrative unfolded and the nature of the situation, which blew up into what James [Sicily] dubbed ‘a storm in a teacup’,” Mitchell commented on the backlash faced by Allen.

“These types of situations are common, and witnessing it all affect one player simultaneously felt unjust to him. I was genuinely disappointed for him that it transpired this way and that I was involved.”

While discussing Hawthorn’s approach to potentially pursuing Allen, Mitchell provided insights into the club’s recruitment and list management strategy.

“We evaluate every player on each AFL list, categorising them into ‘greens’ — those we believe could enhance our team, ‘oranges’ — those we need more information about, and ‘reds’ — players we likely won’t pursue,” he explained.

“We identify over 100 players who make the green list, and for each, there’s a profile detailing their interest, contract status, and management group. Then, [player acquisition manager] Jarryd Roughead and the rest of the list management team reach out to those on the green list for further insights.”